Howard County Briefs

Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 22, appointments for income tax preparation for county residents will be taken. The service, offered at county senior centers and co-sponsored by AARP and the IRS, starts Feb. 1. Electronic filing is available at no charge. Service is available to middle- and low-income taxpayers, with an emphasis on those age 60 and older. Clients should bring 2011 federal and Maryland tax returns and 2012 tax records to the appointment. Self-employment returns with more than $5,000 in expenses and very complex returns are not eligible. Evening and weekend appointments are available at some sites.

To schedule an appointment, call:

•The Bain Center: 410-313-7387.

•Ellicott City Senior Center: 410-313-1400.

•Glenwood Community Center: 410-313-5440.

•East Columbia Senior Center: 410-313-7680.

•North Laurel Community Center: 410-313-0380.

•Elkridge Senior Center: 410-313-5192.

Community forum

The Domestic Violence Center of Howard County will host "Preventing Dating Violence: A Community Event" from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 19 in the Kittleman Room of Duncan Hall at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and registration.

The free event will feature experts addressing short- and long-term consequences of dating violence, dating and campus life, and community action to end this form of violence. Individual sessions will focus on topics of specific interest to teens, parents, teachers, service providers and young adults. The event will also feature a wellness fair.

Open to all ages. Those who register in advance at dvcenter.org will be entered into a grand prize drawing. For more information, call Vanita Leatherwood at 410-997-0304 or email vleatherwood@dvcenter.org.

Auditions

Laurel Mill Playhouse will hold auditions for Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Nile" from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at 508 Main St. in Laurel. Casting is for six men and five women, ages 12-65 and over, and; the audition will include cold readings from the script. Bring resume and head shot. Callbacks, if needed, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 or Jan. 30. Production dates are April 5-28. Information: 301-617-9906.

Volunteers needed

The Howard County Arts Council needs volunteers in area including reception, raffle, performance, silent auction, logistics, and setup for the 16th annual Celebration of the Arts on March 23. For more information, call 410-313-2787 or go to hocoarts.org.

Art exhibits

"HoCo Open 2013" and "Nature in Focus" runs through Feb. 22 at the Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road in Ellicott City. A reception with live music and light refreshments will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 (snow date Feb. 1). Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Information: 410-313-2787.

Calling all artists

The Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House is accepting applications for artists to exhibit in the coming gallery season. Applications will be reviewed in the spring for artists to exhibit in 2014. The deadline is June 1. For applications, go to wildelake.org/events. Send completed applications to: Carole Black, Gallery Director, Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia 21044 or email cjblack@columbiavillages.org.

Sports Hall of Fame

Nomination forms are available for the Department of Recreation and Parks' 2013 Community Sports Hall of Fame, which recognizes outstanding individuals who have gained prominence in or made substantial contributions to community recreational sports in the county. The nomination deadline is April 15. Coaches, managers, league officials, commissioners or behind-the-scenes contributors can be nominated. Nominees must be either county residents or have made their sports contributions primarily in Howard County. For forms and information, call 410-313-4711 or go to howardcountymd.gov/halloffame.htm. In addition to the form, nominators must provide the committee with an essay, limited to four double-spaced, typed pages, demonstrating the nominee's community sports background. Individuals chosen will be inducted at the annual Celebration of Sports ceremony Oct. 15.

Vendors wanted

Vendor applications are being accepted for the county's sixth annual GreenFest, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 13 at Howard Community College's Burrill Galleria, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia. Vendors and exhibitors with information on green products, options for resident involvement in helping the community go green, ecological home cleaning, environmentally friendly lawn care, alternative energy, water conservation and reuse, and tips for making everyday activities green are encouraged to apply. Each exhibit space includes a 5-foot table and two chairs. The cost to nonprofits is $25 per space; cost to other entities, including commercial businesses, is $35 per space. A $10 late fee will be charged to those who apply after Jan. 18. Preference will be given to local businesses and organizations that promote environmentally friendly goods and services. Vendor applications are available at hcgreenfest.org. For information or to have an application mailed, email awilcom@howardcountymd.gov or call 410-313-6433.

Kindred Spirits

Kindred Spirits, a social club for people diagnosed with early memory loss or dementia, meets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the 50+ Center at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center, 2700 Route 97, Cooksville. Highlights include therapeutic activities, including music, art and exercise, as well as a support group. A daily fee of $30 includes snacks, lunch, coffee and tea. The program is sponsored by the Howard County Office on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Maryland. Information: Judy Miller at 410-313-5441 or jumiller@howardcountymd.gov.

Recycling cans

Habitat for Humanity and the Boy Scouts of America have placed a collection bin for aluminum cans at the entrance to the parking lot of Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, 6410 Amherst Ave., in Allview Estates. Information: 410-997-4949.